JPH07289515A - Washing device for endoscope pipeline - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a washing device for an endoscope which is capable of feeding gas in a dry state into the pipeline of an endoscope body and completely removing the water in this pipeline. CONSTITUTION:This washing device includes an air feed pump, a liquid tank 25 contg. liquid for washing, an air feed tube 26 which is communicated at one end side to this air feed pump and has a first mouth body freely attachably and detachably connected to this liquid tank 25 on the other side and a water feed tube 27 which is connected on one end side to the pipeline of the endoscope 1 and is provided with a second mouth body freely attachably and detachably connected to the liquid tank 25 on the other end side. The first mouth body of the tube 26 for air feeding and the second mouth body of the water feed tube 27 are communicatably connected without via the liquid tank 25.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an endoscope conduit cleaning apparatus, and more particularly to an endoscope conduit cleaning apparatus for cleaning the inside of a conduit incorporated in a body of an endoscope.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An endoscope used for the purpose of examination or treatment in a body cavity is not limited to the outer surface of an insertion portion to be inserted into the body cavity, but also the conduits incorporated in the body of the endoscope, for example, air supply conduits. ,
Dirt and the like also adhere to the inside of the water supply line, the suction line or the forceps channel. Therefore, it is necessary to clean and disinfect the interior of the endoscope after use without fail, and therefore various endoscope conduit cleaning devices have been provided.

Among them, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 59-15193.
There is an accumulator type cleaning device as described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. This cleaning device mainly performs cleaning and the like when the endoscope is actually used, but the inside of the conduit of the endoscope main body can also be cleaned at the same time.

This cleaning apparatus includes an air supply source, a pressure accumulating tank containing a cleaning liquid and other chemicals, an air supply tube connecting the air supplying source and the pressure accumulating tank, and a conduit for the pressure accumulating tank and the endoscope body. It is composed of a liquid feeding tube for connecting with the liquid feeding tube, and the liquid feeding tube is attached so that it can slide in and out of the liquid stored in the pressure accumulating tank.

When a chemical liquid such as a cleaning liquid is sent to the conduit of the endoscope body, the lower end opening surface of the liquid sending tube is put into the liquid in the accumulator tank, and the air is sent from the air sending source. Air is fed into the accumulator tank through the tube. After this liquid feeding, with the lower end opening end face of the liquid feeding tube protruding from the liquid surface in the pressure accumulating tank, air is fed from the air feeding source through the air feeding tube into the pressure accumulating tank, and then into the conduit of the endoscope body. The remaining liquid was removed.

[0006]

However, in general, the conduits incorporated in the endoscope body have a structure in which a plurality of conduits are connected or arranged in a complicated manner, and the diameter of the conduit is small. It is normal for the thin section to have a fairly long length. Therefore, as in the pressure-accumulation type cleaning device described in JP-A-59-151931, when air is supplied, it is carried out through a pressure accumulation tank containing a pressurized liquid in the middle of the tube. With this method, since the accumulator tank is filled with water vapor, water vapor is taken in during the air supply, and when this water is supplied into the conduit of the endoscope main body, the water vapor will not reach the inner wall of the conduit. Condensation did not allow sufficient water removal.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and it is an object of the present invention to supply a dry gas into the duct of the endoscope body. Another object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope cleaning apparatus capable of efficiently performing sufficient water removal.

[0008]

The endoscope conduit cleaning apparatus according to the present invention comprises an air supply source, a liquid tank containing a cleaning liquid, one end side communicating with the air supply source, and the other end side. An air supply tube having a first mouth body detachably connected to the liquid tank, one end side of which is connected to a conduit of an endoscope, and the other end side of which is detachably attached to the liquid tank A liquid feeding tube provided with a second mouth to be connected, and the first mouth of the air feeding tube and the second mouth of the liquid feeding tube can communicate with each other without the liquid tank. It is provided with a means for connecting to.

[0009]

[Function] When cleaning the endoscope conduit, a liquid tank is connected between the air supply tube and the liquid supply tube to connect it, and on the other hand, when removing the liquid remaining in the endoscope conduit. Connects the air-feeding tube and the liquid-feeding tube directly by a connecting means without using the liquid tank. Without passing through the liquid tank filled with steam, the air is directly sent from the air supply source to the endoscope conduit to remove the liquid remaining in the endoscope conduit.

[0010]

【Example】

(First Embodiment) A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 schematically shows a system of a device for cleaning an endoscope conduit, and FIG. 2 shows an endoscope 1 in which a conduit is cleaned by this cleaning device.

First, the endoscope 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The endoscope 1 is mainly composed of an insertion section 2, an operation section 3 and a light guide cable 4. Various types of conduits are incorporated inside the endoscope body. That is, the air supply conduit 5 and the water supply conduit 6 extend over the insertion portion 2, the operation portion 3, and the light guide cable 4.
And are inserted through. The tip ends of the air supply pipe line 5 and the water supply pipe line 6 are connected so as to join and communicate with an air supply / water supply nozzle 7 provided at the tip end of the insertion portion 2.
The nozzle 7 is provided toward the outer surface of the observation window 8 and sprays cleaning water or air onto the outer surface of the observation window 8.

A connector 9 is provided at the extending tip of the light guide cable 4. This connector 9
Includes a first air supply mouthpiece 10 communicating with the air supply conduit 5.
A second air supply mouthpiece 11, a water supply mouthpiece 12 that communicates with the water supply conduit 6, and a suction mouthpiece 13 that communicates with a suction conduit described below are provided. The first air supply mouthpiece 10 has the connector 9 as a light source device (not shown).
When it is attached to the light source device, it is connected to the air supply pump in the light source device. The second air supply mouthpiece 11 and the water supply mouthpiece 12 are connected to the air supply tube 15 and the water supply tube 16 on the water supply tank 14 side, respectively. Further, the suction cap 13 is connected to a suction device (not shown).

On the other hand, a suction conduit 17 is inserted and arranged inside the insertion portion 2, the operation portion 3 and the light guide cable 4 over these. This suction line 17
The distal end portion is formed so as to also serve as the treatment instrument insertion channel 18. The distal end of the treatment instrument insertion channel 18 opens at the distal end surface of the insertion portion 2,
Further, the proximal end of the treatment instrument insertion channel 18 communicates with an insertion opening 19 that is opened to the outside in the operation portion 3. A forceps plug 20 is detachably attached to the insertion port 19.

The treatment instrument insertion channel 18 is used.
As described above, the upstream side pipe line portion 17 of the suction pipe line 17
a. A suction on-off control valve 21 is inserted in the middle of the downstream side pipeline 17b of the suction pipeline 17. Further, an air / water supply open / close control valve 22 is inserted in the middle of the air supply pipe 5 and the water supply pipe 6, and by the open / close control valve 22, the air supply pipe 5 and the water supply pipe are provided. The passage 6 is divided into upstream pipe passage portions 5a, 6a and downstream pipe passage portions 5b, 6b.

Next, the cleaning device shown in FIG. 1 will be described. The endoscope cleaning device 23 includes an air supply unit 24 that has a pump or compressor (not shown) that is an air supply source, and a liquid tank 25 that is filled with cleaning liquid. The air supply unit 24 and the liquid tank 25 are connected by an air supply tube 26. In addition, the endoscope 1
And the liquid tank 25 are connected by a water supply tube 27. The tube 26 for air supply is provided with a connector 26a at one end on the upstream side, and the connector 26a is detachably connected to the base 28 of the air supply unit 24.

Further, the air supply unit 24 includes a switch 2 for controlling start and stop of a compressor which is an air supply source.
9 and a pocket 30b for fitting and locking the locking claw portion 30a on the liquid tank 25 side.

A head member 31 covering the upper opening of the liquid tank 25 is mounted. On the upper surface of the head member 31, a male type air supply provided at one end on the downstream side of the air supply tube 26 described above. Female first liquid tank adapter 32 for connecting the water adapter (mouth) 37, and the water supply tube 27
Female water supply adapter (mouth) 3 provided at one upstream end of the
Male type second liquid tank adapters 33 for connecting 8 are adjacently provided in parallel.

The first liquid tank adapter 32 includes the air supply pipe 3
It communicates with the liquid tank 25 via 2a. Further, the second liquid tank adapter 33 communicates with the liquid tank 25 via the water supply pipe 33a. The air supply pipe 32a is opened in an upper portion of the liquid tank 25 without being immersed in the liquid, and the water supply pipe 33a is opened in a lower portion of the liquid tank 25 in a state of being immersed in the liquid.

An injection port 34 for injecting the cleaning liquid into the liquid tank 25 is provided in the upper side portion of the head member 31, and the injection port 34 is normally closed by an injection lid 35. ing. Further, the side surface of the head member 31 is provided with the above-mentioned claw portion 30a for fixing the liquid tank 25 to the air supply unit 24.

On the upper surface of the head member 31, in the vicinity of the first liquid tank adapter 32, when the air supply tube 26 is removed from the liquid tank 25, the air supply tube 26 is caused by the residual pressure in the liquid tank 25. A stopper 36 is provided to prevent the user from jumping out vigorously. The stopper 36 is provided with a plate-shaped member 36a standing upright from the upper surface of the head member 31, the upper end portion of the member 36a is bent horizontally, and the bent portion 36b is provided with the air supply tube 26. Slightly larger than outer diameter, air supply adapter 37
The notch groove 36c having a width smaller than the outer diameter of the above is formed. When the air supply adapter 37 is connected to the first liquid tank adapter 32, the air supply adapter 3
7 is located below the bent portion 36b, and the air supply tube 26 is located in the cutout groove 36c.

In the middle of the downstream side of the water supply tube 27, a first branch tube 27a for sending the fluid to the suction pipe line 17 and the treatment instrument insertion channel 18 side.
And a two-way switching valve 39 for separately distributing the fluid to the second branch tube 27b for feeding the fluid to the air / water feeding pipelines 5, 6. This two-way switching valve 39 to 2
A suction pipe line adapter 66 as shown in FIG. 3 is provided at the downstream end of one of the first branched tubes 27a. A switching adapter 40 as shown in FIG. 4 is provided at the downstream end of the second branch tube 27b.

The suction line adapter 66 includes a main body 68.
And a fixing member 69 made of an elastic body for fixing the fixing member 69 to the insertion opening 19 of the endoscope 1. The one end portion of the main body 68 that is inserted into the insertion port 19 has the insertion port 1
A cylindrical forceps port insertion portion 67 having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of 9 is provided, and the forceps port insertion portion 67 is attached so as to form a gap 78 between the forceps port insertion portion 67 and the inner surface of the insertion port 19.
In the forceps port insertion portion 67, a plurality of notches 72 are formed in the gap 78, that is, near the edge of the inner surface of the insertion port 19 so that the cleaning liquid sent from the water supply tube 27 can flow around. ing. The cutout portion 72 is formed along the axial direction of the forceps opening insertion portion 67.

Further, the main body portion 6 of the suction line adapter 66.
The other end side portion of 8 is formed in a state in which a tube connecting portion 70 that fits the first branch tube 27a in a liquid-tight manner and fixedly connects is projected.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4, the switching adapter 4
0 is detachably connected to an air / water feeding cylinder 41 incorporated in the operation unit 3 of the endoscope 1. By the way, in the operation unit 3 in the air / water supply cylinder 41, the upstream air supply pipe 5a, the downstream air supply pipe 5b, and the upstream water supply pipe 6 are provided.
a and the downstream water supply pipeline 6b are connected to each other. Also,
A bottom lid 42 is screwed into the bottom portion of the cylinder 41, and a flange 43 that is joined to the outer surface of the exterior member 65 of the operation portion 3 is provided at the outer upper end portion protruding from the operation portion 3. There is.

The switching adapter 40 includes a piston 44.
A piston cover 57 into which the piston 44 is slidably inserted; and an elastic body that fixes the piston cover 57 of the switching adapter 40 to the air / water feeding cylinder 41 by fitting and engaging with the flange 43. And a mounting member 46. Furthermore, a pin 45 projects from the peripheral surface of the piston 44, and the pin 45 is guided by being fitted into a cam groove 56 formed in the piston cover 57, so that the piston 44 slides and rotates in a relationship described later. It is designed to let you.

Piston cover 57 or mounting member 46
A suction cap 73 for closing a suction cylinder (not shown) provided in the vicinity of the air / water supply cylinder 41 in the operation section 3 is connected to the operation portion 3 via a flexible cord 79. The piston 44 has a central hole 47 penetrating in the axial direction. To the central hole 47, the first hole is provided at a position corresponding to the downstream air supply conduit 5b and the downstream water supply conduit 6b of the cylinder 41, respectively. Through holes 48 and second through holes 49 are provided. Further, the piston 44 is provided with an upstream water supply pipe 6a.
The first seal member 50 is provided between the downstream side water supply pipeline 6b and the downstream side water supply pipeline 6b.
The second seal member 51 is provided between the upstream side air supply conduit 5a and the downstream side air supply conduit 5b corresponding to the third seal member 52 is provided between the downstream side air supply conduit 5b. Fourth seal members 53 are provided at positions above the pipeline 6b.

The first seal member 50 has a through hole 54 in the axial direction.
Furthermore, the second seal member 51 and the fourth seal member 53 are O-rings, and the third seal member 52 has a tapered peripheral surface. It is formed by the formed ring member. A connecting portion 55 to which the water supply tube 27 is connected in a liquid-tight manner is projected above the piston 44 (on the tank side).

As mentioned above, the piston cover 57 is used.
A cam groove 56 that guides the pin 45 is cut in this, so that when the piston 44 is rotated in the circumferential direction, the pin 45 slides along the cam groove 56, and the piston 44 is axially moved relative to the cylinder 41. Slide it. A coil spring 58 is interposed between the piston 44 and the piston cover 57 on the outer circumference of the piston 44.
It always urges upward with respect to 1.

FIG. 4 shows a state in which the piston 44 is rotated to the right to raise the piston 44. In this state, when the cleaning liquid is fed from the water feeding tube 27 to the switching adapter 40, the cleaning liquid is at the center of the piston 44. It flows through the hole 47 into the cylinder 41 through the first through hole 48, the second through hole 49, and the through hole 54 of the first seal member 50 at the bottom of the piston 44. Then, the first through hole 48
The cleaning liquid that has flowed out of the gas passes through the gap between the downstream side air supply conduit 5b, the third seal member 52, and the cylinder 41 and flows out to the upstream side air supply conduit 5a. Further, the cleaning liquid flowing out from the second through hole 49 flows out to the downstream side water supply pipeline 6b, and further, the cleaning liquid flowing out from the through hole 54 of the first seal member 50 flows to the upstream side water supply pipeline 6a. Outflow to.

FIG. 5 shows the state in which the piston 44 is rotated to the left and pushed in from the fourth state, and by rotating the piston 44 to the left in this way, the pin 45 protruding from the piston 44 is The piston 44 moves along the cam groove 56 cut by the cover 57, so that the piston 44 falls into the air / water feeding cylinder 41. At this time, the first seal member 50 provided on the bottom of the piston 44 causes the bottom lid 4 of the air / water feeding cylinder 41 to move.
2 and the through hole 54 of the first seal member 50 is closed. In addition, the third seal member 52 is also the cylinder 41.
It comes into close contact with the tapered portion 59 provided on the inner surface of the.

In the state shown in FIG. 5, when the cleaning liquid is sent from the water supply tube 27 to the switching adapter 40, the cleaning liquid becomes the first cleaning liquid.
Since the through hole 54 of the sealing member 50 of the
Out into the through hole 48 and the second through hole 49. First
The cleaning liquid flowing out from the through hole 48 of the third seal member 5
Due to 2, it does not flow out to the upstream air supply conduit 5a, but only flows out from the downstream air supply conduit 5b. In addition, the second through hole 4
The cleaning liquid flowing out of 9 does not flow out to the upstream side water supply conduit 6a and the upstream side air supply conduit 5a because of the first seal member 50 and the second seal member 51, and the downstream side air supply conduit It flows out only to 5b.

Next, the operation of this endoscope cleaning apparatus will be described. First, the cleaning liquid is sent to the air supply conduit 5, the water supply conduit 6, and the suction conduit 17 in the body of the endoscope 1,
When cleaning them, as shown in FIG. 6, the air supply adapter 37 of the air supply tube 26 is connected to the first liquid tank adapter 32 on the liquid tank 25 side containing the cleaning liquid, and
The water supply adapter 38 of the water supply tube 27 is also connected to the second liquid tank adapter 33 on the liquid tank 25 side.

Here, when the switch 29 in the air supply unit 24 is turned on, the compressor (air supply pump) in the air supply unit 24 is activated and passes through the air supply tube 26 connected to the compressor,
Pressurized air is sent into the liquid tank 25. As a result, the inside of the liquid tank 25 is pressurized. This liquid tank 2
Since the cleaning liquid is contained in the cleaning liquid 5, the cleaning liquid is pressurized. Then, the pressurized cleaning liquid is supplied to the water supply tube 27.
2 provided in the middle of this water supply tube 27
Through the direction switching valve 39, the gas is sent to the air supply conduit 5 and the water supply conduit 6 side or the suction conduit 17 side in the endoscope 1. The inside of each pipeline is washed by appropriately switching the switching adapter 40.

On the other hand, when air is supplied to the air supply pipe 5, the water supply pipe 6 and the suction pipe 17 in the endoscope 1, as shown in FIG. The adapter 37 and the water supply adapter 38 are removed so that the adapters 37 and 38 are connected to each other.

When the switch 29 in the air supply unit 24 is turned on, the compressor in the air supply unit 24 is activated, and the pressurized air passes through the air supply tube 26 connected to the compressor.
The air supply tube 26 directly passes through the water supply tube 27 and the two-way switching valve 39, and the air supply conduit 5 and the water supply conduit 6 side in the endoscope 1 or the suction conduit 17 is provided.
Sent to the side.

Although the liquid tank 25 containing the cleaning liquid is used here, a disinfecting liquid, sterilized water or alcohol may be injected instead of the cleaning liquid and the liquid may be sent, or each liquid may be injected. It is also possible to prepare a plurality of liquid tanks 25 and sequentially replace the air supply tube 26 and the water supply tube 27 to supply the liquid.

According to the above construction, however, the liquid tank 2
5. Air supply tube 26 and water supply tube 27 connected to 5
By connecting directly to, the dry gas containing no vapor in the liquid tank 25 can be fed into the conduit in the endoscope 1. Therefore, the water in the conduit can be efficiently and completely removed, and the water in the water supply tube 27, which is the tube on the cleaning device side of the endoscope conduit, can also be removed. Further, because of the simple structure, not only the cleaning and disinfection of the cleaning device can be facilitated, but also the cost can be reduced. (Second Embodiment) A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. This embodiment is substantially common to the endoscope conduit cleaning apparatus of the first embodiment described above, but differs in the following points. That is, the downstream end of the air supply tube 26 connected to the liquid tank 25 and the upstream end of the water supply tube 27 connected to the liquid tank 25 are connected to the tank adapter 60 made of the same block-shaped member. Connected. The air supply tube 26 and the water supply tube 27 are connected in parallel so as to be led out from the upper surface of the block-shaped member. The tubes 26, 2 are provided on the lower back side of the block-shaped member.
Two male-type tank connectors (mouths) 61a, 61b, which communicate with 7, respectively, are provided so as to project in parallel. In other words, the tank adapter 60 is a unitary structure of two male tank connectors 61a and 61b.
Be able to handle them together. A sealing O-ring 61 is fitted on the peripheral surface of each of the connectors 61a and 61b.

On the other hand, on the upper surface of the liquid tank 25, the tank connectors 61a, 6 of the tank adapter 60 are provided.
Two connection ports 62 to which 1b is detachably fitted
a and 62b are provided. Connection port for air supply tube 6
2a communicates with the inside of the liquid tank 25 via an air supply pipe 62c. The water supply tube connection port 62b communicates with the inside of the liquid tank 25 via the water supply pipe 63d. The air supply pipe 62c is short and opens at the upper part of the liquid tank 25 without being immersed in the liquid, and the water supply pipe 62d is long and is open at the bottom of the liquid tank 25 while being immersed in the liquid.

On the upper surface of the air supply unit 24, there is provided an air supply adapter 64 in which two air supply ports 63 having the same diameter as the connection ports 62a and 62b of the liquid tank 25 are provided at the same corresponding positions. The two air supply ports 63 communicate with each other through a passage 81 formed in the air supply adapter 64. The tank adapter 60 can be detachably connected to the air supply adapter 64. Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment.

Therefore, in the case of this embodiment, when the cleaning liquid is sent to the air supply conduit 5, the water supply conduit 6 and the suction conduit 17 in the endoscope 1 for cleaning, FIG. The tank adapter 60 is connected to the head member 31 in the liquid tank 25 in which the cleaning liquid has been injected, as shown in the procedure in step 1.
Here, the switch 29 in the air supply unit 24 is turned on.
When operated, the compressor in the air supply unit 24 operates and pressurized air is sent into the liquid tank 25 through the air supply tube 26 connected to the compressor, and as a result, the liquid tank The inside of 25 is pressurized.

Since the cleaning liquid is contained in the liquid tank 25, the pressurized cleaning liquid passes through the water supply tube 27, and
Through the direction switching valve 39, it is fed into each of the conduits 5, 6, 17 in the endoscope 1 as described above, and the inside thereof is cleaned.

Next, when air is supplied to each of the conduits 5, 6 and 17 in the endoscope 1 to remove water, the tank adapter 60 is pulled out from the head member 31 on the liquid tank 25 side and removed. As shown in FIG. 9, the air supply unit 24 is connected to the air supply adapter 64 provided on the upper portion. Here again, the switch 29 of the compressor in the air supply unit 24
When is turned on, air is sent from the compressor, passes through the air supply tube 26, and is directly sent to the water supply tube 27 through the passage 81 of the air supply adapter 64. Then, it is fed into each of the conduits 5, 6, 17 in the endoscope 1 through the water supply tube 27.

In this embodiment, however, the downstream end of the gas feeding tube 26 and the upstream end of the liquid feeding tube 27 are attached to one block-shaped adapter 60 to form a unit, and liquid feeding and air feeding are switched. At this time, the head member 31 on the liquid tank 25 side or the air supply adapter 64 on the air supply unit 24 side can be connected with one touch. That is,
The changing operation can be easily performed with one touch, and the workability of cleaning and removing water is improved. (Third Embodiment) A third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In this embodiment, the passage 8 formed by a pipe or hole in the air supply adapter 64 in each of the above-mentioned embodiments.
A heating wire 75 is provided in the middle of the passage 1, and the gas passing through the passage 81 is heated to be a dry gas. The heating wire 75 is connected to a power source (not shown) provided on the air supply unit 24 side. Other configurations are the same as those of the first or second embodiment.

Therefore, when the air is supplied as described above, the air sent from the air supply tube 26 reaches the communication passage 81 in the air supply adapter 64 from the tank adapter 60. Here, the air is heated by the heating wire 75 to become warm air, which can be sent from the water supply tube 27 to each of the conduits 5, 6, 17 in the endoscope 1. As described above, since the air sent to each of the conduits 5, 6, 17 is warmed, the water removal time in each of the conduits of the endoscope 1 is significantly shortened and sufficient water removal is possible. . (Fourth Embodiment) The fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, the air dehumidifying means 85 is provided in the passage 81 of the air supply adapter 64 described above. This air dehumidifying means 85
Is for dehumidifying using the hollow fiber membrane 86, and is specifically configured as shown in FIG.

That is, a large number of hollow fiber membranes 86 as permeable membranes that selectively permeate water vapor are provided in the holding box 87 in an array along the passage direction of the passage 81. The upstream end and the downstream end of the hollow fiber membrane 86 are the holding box 8
7 is liquid-tightly attached to the upstream side wall and the downstream side wall corresponding to No. 7, and both end openings are open to the passage 81 side. The inner cavity of the hollow fiber membrane 86 serves as an inlet side that communicates the passage 81 from the upstream side to the downstream side, and the inside of the holding box 87 on the outer peripheral surface side of the hollow fiber membrane 86 serves as the outlet side.

The portion of the holding box 87 on the outlet side, which is located on the downstream side of the passage 81, communicates with the downstream portion of the passage 81 via the first communication conduit 91. A portion of the holding box 87 on the outlet side, which is located on the upstream side of the passage 81, communicates with the outside air via the second communication conduit 92.

In the air supply adapter 64, as described above, the air supply tube 2 is provided in the passage 81.
The air sent from 6 reaches the inside of the communication passage 81 of the tank adapter 60. Then, the air dehumidifying means 85
From the inlet to the downstream side through the inner cavity of each hollow fiber membrane 86. At this time, only the water vapor 93 contained in the air permeates the hollow fiber membrane 86 and is discharged to the outside of the membrane. In addition, oxygen 94 and nitrogen 95 contained in the air do not pass through the hollow fiber membrane 86, pass from the air dehumidifying means 85 to the downstream side of the passage 81, and pass through the water supply tube 27 to the endoscope 1 as described above. It can be sent to each of the pipelines 5, 6, and 17.

As a result of dewatering, water vapor 93 collects in the holding box 87 of the air dehumidifying means 85.
A part of the dried air fed from the downstream side of the passage 81 through the first communication pipe 91 is discharged to the outside atmosphere through the second communication pipe 92.

However, according to the configuration of this embodiment, since the air to be sent is dry, the water removal time in each of the conduits 5, 6, 17 of the endoscope 1 is greatly shortened. , Also strong and fully dry.

According to the aspects of the above-described embodiments, the following can be obtained. (1) Air pump, liquid tank containing cleaning liquid,
An air supply tube having one end communicating with the air supply pump and the other end having a first mouth body detachably connected to the liquid tank, and one end connected to a conduit of an endoscope And a second end removably connected to the liquid tank on the other end side.
And a means for connecting the first mouth of the air supply tube and the second mouth of the liquid supply tube so that they can communicate with each other without the liquid tank. A device for cleaning an endoscope conduit, which is provided.

(2) The endoscope conduit according to the first aspect, wherein the first mouthpiece of the air supply tube and the second mouthpiece of the liquid supply tube are one-touch connectors. Cleaning equipment.

(3) The means for connecting the mouth members to each other is such that the first connection port to which the first mouth member of the air feeding tube is connected and the second mouth member of the liquid feeding tube are connected. 3. The endoscope conduit according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: a connection block having a second connection port, wherein the block is provided with a passage communicating with each connection port. Cleaning equipment.

(4) The endoscope conduit cleaning apparatus according to item 3, wherein heating means for raising the temperature of the gas to be supplied is provided in the middle of the communication passage of the block. (5) The endoscope conduit cleaning apparatus according to item 3, wherein a dryer means for dehumidifying the gas to be sent is provided in the middle of the communication passage of the block.

[0054]

As described above, according to the present invention, reliable and sufficient water removal can be performed by sending dry gas into the conduit of the endoscope to perform water removal. Further, at the same time, it is possible to remove water in the liquid delivery tube of the cleaning device.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view schematically showing a system of an endoscope cleaning apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of an endoscope.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the endoscope cleaning device in the attached state of the suction conduit adapter.

FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view of the endoscope cleaning device with a switching adapter attached, and FIG. 4B is a development view of a cam groove.

FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view of the endoscope cleaning device with a switching adapter attached, and FIG. 5B is a development view of a cam groove.

FIG. 6 is a view showing the endoscope cleaning apparatus according to the present invention, wherein the air supply adapter of the air supply tube is connected to the first liquid tank adapter of the liquid tank, and the water supply adapter of the water supply tube is connected to the second liquid tank. Explanatory drawing of the state connected to the tank adapter.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the air supply adapter of the air supply tube and the water supply adapter of the water supply tube are directly connected to each other in the endoscope cleaning device.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory view schematically showing a system of an endoscope cleaning apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a state in which the tank adapter is attached to the air supply adapter in the endoscope cleaning device.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the endoscope cleaning apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention with the tank adapter attached to the air supply adapter.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a tank adapter and an air supply adapter in the endoscope cleaning apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view of the main part of the air supply adapter in the endoscope cleaning apparatus.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory view of the working state of the hollow fiber membrane.

[Explanation of symbols]

23 ... Endoscope cleaning device, 24 ... Air supply unit, 25 ...
Liquid tank, 26 ... Air supply tube, 27 ... Water supply tube, 32 ... First liquid tank adapter, 33 ... Second liquid tank adapter, 37 ... Air supply adapter, 38 ... Water supply adapter.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An air supply source, a liquid tank containing a cleaning liquid, and a first port, one end side of which communicates with the air supply pump, and the other end side of which is detachably connected to the liquid tank. An air supply tube having a body, one end side of which is connected to a duct of an endoscope,
A liquid feeding tube having a second mouth body detachably connected to the liquid tank on the other end side, the first mouth body of the air feeding tube and the second mouth piece of the liquid feeding tube. A device for cleaning an endoscope conduit, which is provided with means for connecting the mouth of the device and the mouth of the device so as to be able to communicate with each other without the liquid tank.